Siege of Chillán

The siege of Chillán occurred from July 27th to August 10th, 1813, as patriot forces attempted to dislodge a determined band of royalist defenders.

Juan Francisco Sanchez had sent a message to Antonio Pareja for reinforcements as José Miguel Carrera began his siege.

The patriot forces surrounding Chillán consisted of some of their best soldiers, but the siege was to take place in the midst of winter and in a difficult location.

By the time that Carrera arrived to take command of the siege, Joel Roberts Poinsett and Juan Mackenna had already compiled a plan showing the enemy fortifications and for the location of the artillery.

His militia cavalry and some of the infantry had fled altogether, and without food and ammunition it was not going to be possible to hold the city perimeter.

Plate located in the plaza marking the site of the siege of Chillán, on the corner of the Luis Arellanos and Velasquez streets, remembering the deaths in the battle of Maipón on August 5.
Sketch compiled by the patriots in the siege of Chillán , in 1813 July